The Ultimate Direction Diablo ($100) hydration pack is designed for very long runs without need to find water and food. This is a long range pack designed for 30+ mile pursuits.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Overall, great appearance and quality design of the pack. See below pictures of pack overview.
The hydration bladder did come with an insulated neoprene tube cover. It is not displayed in the photo above, because I removed it and was unable to “unroll” the insulated tubing. See picture below.
TRAIL TESTING
I tested this pack on multiple long runs. This pack has a 30+ mile range. The pack fit perfectly. It had enough room for all my essentials (and then some). No bouncing while running. The load was very secure and distributed evenly. The only thing I noticed was when the pack had a full 96 fluid oz bladder with the 20 fluid oz water bottle (and gear). It was a heavy load, but still runnable. With the pack fully loaded, the shoulder straps kept creeping above my outerwear neck line. No chafing occurred, but did notice the slight uncomfortable feeling. This went away as the pack got lighter. This could potentially be alleviated by slightly curving the shoulder straps about a quarter to half an inch around the neck area.
When the hydration bladder is full, you will need to keep the pack vertical. The bladder does leak from the velcro closure at the top when it is laid down horizontally. I would recommend filling up the bladder prior to use and keeping the pack vertical during transport to the trails.
TECH SPECS
- 96oz / 2.8L reservoir
- 20oz / .6L bottle
- SportVest shoulder harness system
- 3D AirMesh back panel and shoulder straps for optimal ventilation
- Drain port
- Adjustable reflective bungee system
- Shingled exit port for tube routing
- HyperFlow bite valve
- Strap secure webbing control
- Adjustable sternum straps
- Insulated bottle holster
- Reflective piping & logo
Storage
- Lots of storage! (See photos above)
- 4 pockets in the front
- 4 med/large pockets in the back
Storage Capacity
420 cubic inches/ 7.1L
Materials
3D AirMesh, Nylon 210D Wide Dobby & Nylon Mesh
Weight Breakdown
CONCLUSION
The Ultimate Direction Diable hydration pack meets its design function – fluid and gear carrier for long range runs without a pit-stop. It is comfortable and does not bounce during running. There could be a slight discomfort around the neck area when the pack is fully loaded with fluid and gear. I think I will be using this pack when volunteering for Western States as a member of the safety patrol covering a 32 mile section of the trail. It will have plenty of space for essentials and hydration needs. I would recommend this pack for covering long distances when stopping may not be an option.
PACK OVERVIEW
I have an older version of this pack without the extra bottle holder. I really like the pack, but the bladder is terrible for use during races (I am a heavy sweater, so I need a lot of fluids). The roll-top on the bladder is not conducive to fast refills. I need to find a replacement bladder but the shape is short and squat. Not really the same as other types.